So cards on the table.. I'm nervous about writing this and even more so about actually clicking the button to publish it, so deep breath and let's go.

You may have noticed I've been on a bit of a "radio silence" for a few weeks, if you did then I'm really sorry! After working so hard to revamp the site at the beginning of the year I wasn't planning on disappearing on you guys.

So where was I? In the black hole where motivation, enthusiasm and self-worth go to die. Ok, that's a bit melodramatic, but I wasn't in a good place.

A lot of different circumstances and outside issues collided to make a pretty difficult period, I was struggling in almost every aspect of my life and while I wouldn't class myself as depressed during that time, I know from previous experience that I was pretty damn close.

At that time I was having issues with my physical health after an ankle injury meant I couldn't exercise properly, I was (and still am) caring for a disable relative and on top of that there's the boring old work stuff. It was a lot of things all piling on top of me.

It took a friend to sit me down and point out some of my warning signs (biting my thumb is a major one for me; it usually means I'm stressed as hell) for me to realise that I really wasn't coping as well as I thought I was and that the couple of days of not really wanting to do anything had turned into weeks.

So I listened to the people around me, I listened to my body and my mind and I decided to make some changes in my life. One of which means getting back to blogging.

That might not sound like a big deal, but writing and maintaining a blog is a lot of work, and it was definitely a source of anxiety for me. I don't try to emulate other writers, I don't pretend to have a perfect life or post hugely staged photos on instagram, nor do I go to those meetups or blogger events. There's nothing wrong with any of that, I admire the people who are able to do all of it, but it's not for me and it never will be. But despite that I still feel the pressure of wondering if not doing that devalues my work or makes me less likely to be taken seriously. So even not trying to keep up brings its own stresses.

Which brings me back to now, because I promised myself this wouldn't be a long post. My hope and intention is to get back into the swing of things and back into writing and sharing with you guys. I'm not going to commit to a timetable; I've never been good at saying "I'll post every Thursday" because my lifestyle just doesn't accomodate that, but I will write as often as I can and I will hopefully get back onto social media more because I love talking to people and seeing their lives through twitter and instagram.

One reason I want to get back into blogging is to share some of the things that have helped me start to fix the issues I was having; so products, foods, workouts, etc that just bring happiness and better mental state, as well as hopefully introducing both myself and you to some more.

The name of this blog is Life Appears, which comes from a quote from my favourite book of all time Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Charlotte also wrote in Jane Eyre that "I am no bird and no net ensnares me, I am a free human being with an independent will."

Seems a pretty good place to start the next stage of this journey don't you think?

I've linked up with:

If you're anything like me you probably have a stash of products that you used to use, but for whatever reason, moved on from... I can almost never pinpoint why I stop using these products; but it is almost always skincare.

One of the items I've had stashed in a drawer for a while is this tub of Organic Surge Super Rich Body Butter in the Lavender Meadow variety. I couldn't tell you how long it's been there or why I haven't been using it, but I do know that I am committed to using this tub until it runs out.

When we transition between two different seasons my skin tends to rebel; autumn to winter is always the worst for me but this spring limbo also affects me skin, leaving it very dry and desparate for attention. For whatever reason after a shower at the weekend I felt the need for something more intensive than my normal body lotion so I dug this out and decided to reacquaint myself with it.

The first thing that immediately wins me over with this body butter is it's smell... it's just instant relaxtion. I've always been a fan of lavender scented products anyway, but this one is perfection. I actually have it sat next to me while I right this, with the lid off just so I can smell it.. it's like a scented candle without the worry of burning the house down.

Not only does is the smell good for the soul, but the fomulation is good for the skin. It's 100% free of parabens, SLS, artificual fragrances and colourants.... hooray! It's enriched with aloe vera and both cocoa & shea butter, so it soothes and smoothes at the same time. Infused with lavender and geranium essential oils, you get everything you could possibly want in one tub.  Add the fact that it is an ECO CERT organic product and that Organic Surge are fully against animal testing, and it's no wonder I've quickly fallen in love with this body butter.

The body butter is every bit as rich as the name suggests and it is certainly thick, with a little going quite a long way. It does take some serious rubbing in but then once distributed it seems to absorb quite quickly with no residue or sticky feeling left behind... just instant softness.

The only downside for me is that I can't find it for sale anywhere, so I'll be sending an email over to Organic Surge to see if they can help me track some down.. but if not, I've already got my eye on the other Lavender Meadow products, which include a body lotion.

I've found this a really great product to use just before bed, because I get the moisturising, the mini massage from rubbing it in and the relaxing smell of the lavendar (which I already as a pillow spray, so extra relaxation!).

You can find the full Organic Surge range at their website here: www.organicsurge.com

I can't recommend this body butter enough, and while it sat in my drawer for a long time.. it's going to get used a lot from now on!

I'd love to know about your forgotten product stashes and your thoughts on Organic Surge and body butters in general.... comments really do brighten up my day so please say hello!


Speak soon, x

Last Monday, I woke up with a head-splitting migraine and instantly knew I was in trouble. I'd pushed myself a little too hard over the weekend workwise and had let myself get dehydrated... there was only one person to blame for the pain that was making keeping my eyes open a monumental effort, and that was me.

Coupled with the migraine, I also came down with a cold/flu-buglike-thing (my immune system has impeccable timing) and spent almost all of last week curled up on my sofa; cradling cups of tea to keep my hands warm, surrounded by a mountain of tissues and desperately trying not to think about all the things I needed to be doing.

Even opening the laptop to check emails felt like it would take that entire day's energy, and climbing the stairs? They might as well have been Everest... I definitely crawled up on them on my hands and knees more than once. Why not just stay in bed upstairs I hear you say? The kettle was downstairs, that's the only explanation I can give.

It wasn't really until yesterday (Sunday) that the pressure in my head (thanks to blocked sinuses) really eased and I could actually inhale through my nose (this is no longer possible today thanks to hayfever, but it was nice at the time). An entire week just gone to waste because first I didn't listen to my body and then my immune system and head punished me for it.

If you're still reading this, you're probably thinking "is there a point to this?"... well there was supposed to be, so let's see if we can find it. We are all so busy these days; whether you're a stay at home parent doing the equivalent of 5 people's jobs, a blogger or artist trying to make people understand that exposure doesn't pay the bills, or just a "normal" person trying to make ends meet and have time to relax at the end of the day.

The world we live in is fast paced and it's relentless. We have 24hr news and it's almost always bad news. We are constantly connected which helps when we need it but then makes us feel withdrawn when we try to relax away from the constant refreshing of our news feeds. Emails are never-ending.. inbox zero? More like zero hope of that happening!

Last week brought it home to me that I was pushing myself too far. I work in 3 very different worlds. I care for a relative and I try to not completely neglect this blog which I've put so much time and love into over the years. Juggling all of it forever was never going to happen and I've now made myself a promise... no work after 6PM. Why 6? Because it's when I start cooking dinner, so from now on as soon as the cooker goes on the work brain goes off. No "oh I'll just schedule this tweet for next week" or "Let me just check something with this client". No more. Because I was burnt up and worn out and I can't do that again.

We all know we push ourselves too hard and we are all well aware of what the effects of that are.. so, I'm going to ask you a favour; give yourself a little time everyday just to relax. Sounds simple doesn't it? But we all know how tricky it can actually be. But let's all put some real effort into letting our brains just have a breather and give your bodies time to absorb what's happening in this crazy world we live in.

Stay safe, x


P.S. Just for sheer irony, I've actually finished writing this post at 6:11pm... oops.

Spring is just around the corner which means that it's also nearly Mother's Day (this Sunday in fact, so time is short!). Now I don't really pay much attention to Mother's Day myself; simply because my Mum died 6 years ago, with my Grandmother dying the year before.. so I don't have anyone to buy for on that day. But of course, plenty of people do celebrate Mother's Day so I thought I'd share with you the latest Specialbuys collection from Aldi to help you treat them!

The Mother's Day gift range is in stores right now (and online, but it might be a bit late to guarantee delivery) and includes:

With this new Mother's Day Specialbuys range, Aldi have got every angle covered... if she likes cake and a glass of bubbly then there's plenty of choice, if music is more her thing then I love the turntable (I've just invested in a record player and reminded myself how much better vinyl sounds), there are handbags, facial cleansers and even things for the garden.. so no matter what she likes you're bound to find something to put a smile on her face.

You can find more info on the products via Aldi's website here and they'll be instore while stocks last so get down to your local store fast!

While I don't have anyone to buy a present for this weekend, I'll definitely be popping down to my store to try and see if I can get my hands on a couple of things for myself.. stationery and slippers are calling me!

I'd love to know your thoughts on the range and if you think you'll be buying any of the products let me know what! If you're celebrating or if you're hoping to get something from your own kids, I hope you have a great Mother's Day <3

Speak soon, x

I’m not going to lie, I love cleaning my house. It’s how I cope with stress and there are few things as satisfying as a well organised cupboard. So with spring just about popping it’s fresh green shoots out the ground I’ve been thinking about spring cleaning and thought I’d share a few tips or notes with you lovely people! Spring cleaning is something I really enjoy doing because after winter it can feel a bit stuffy inside right? Kind of like that first day when you can leave the house without wearing winter boots or a thick coat; throwing open all the windows while you clean brings in a new lease of life.

• Windows - it’s not just about opening them but cleaning them too. Sure during the winter there’s so little sunlight around that a few grimy windows don’t make much difference but now’s the time to make them shine inside and out. But I don’t want any of you dangling out of windows or wobbling around on ladders so if you need help please get it, a window cleaner won’t cost a fortune and you’re guaranteed great results (just make sure you’re not naked when he pops around ;) .. )
• Floors - now I have a dog who is incredibly good at finding every single drop of mud and bringing it all home with him, so my carpets definitely need a good deep clean at the end of a long, wet winter. There are a few products I’ve got my eyes on to try this year, but if you don’t want to get down and scrub, think about hiring a carpet cleaner.. I have no idea if they work or not but some people swear by them! If your floors aren’t dirty but still need a refresh, I’ve found a steam mop is great for bringing some of the spring back.. mine has a carpet glider but if you don’t have one just make sure to not leave it in one spot for too long (after steaming stand on the carpet with bare feet, it is a lovely feeling while it’s still warm).
• Walls - time to look up from your floor and onto your paintwork. Are there any rooms you want to change the colour of or is the paint just in need of a clean? I swear by sugar soap, it is amazing for making your walls look as good as new without the hassle of repainting. But I do have quite a lot of painting to do this year, so I’ll be looking for some deals on paint as well (when did it get so expensive?)
• Sealant - not the most sexy of topics I know, but as someone who has flooded their kitchen (twice) due to bad sealant around the shower upstairs, I’m well aware of how important this is. Check the edges of your bath, shower, toilet and sinks for any peeling, mouldy or absent sealant. This is a really easy job to do yourself and you’ll feel very proud of yourself once everything is secure with some new sealer.. but make sure to open a window because that silicone stinks.
• Fire safe - while we’re on the really important parts, check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they have new batteries in them.. there is nothing more annoying than that 1 beep that goes off every 3 minutes and you’re not sure which alarm it is because the bastard never beeps when you’re looking at it. Change the batteries now, make a note in your diary for next year and relax.
• Bring in the outside - for me the start of spring is also when I start to bring flowers into my house again, last week I brought in some daffodils that had flowered early, this week it’s chrysanthemums that are sitting in my kitchen window. It’s only a small thing, but they make me feel a bit brighter when I see them because it means winter is finally on it’s way out.
• Stock take - if you’re like me then you have a healthy stock cupboard of tinned items “just in case”, now is a good time to make sure everything is still in date and to use up anything that will run out soon, plus tastes change so if you’ve stockpiled something you now hate why not donate it to your local foodbank instead? Another area to do a stock take in is your wardrobe... we’ve had the cold weather now so take a look at what you didn’t wear, ask yourself why you didn’t wear it and then evict it from your house! 
  

They are just a few of my tips for the start of spring, but I’d love to know if you have any of your own so please leave me a comment! My spring cleaning checklist gets longer every year but I always feel like I’m missing something.


Happy Spring!!